Incandescent-lamp socket.



No. 818,253. PATENTED APR. 1'7, 1906.

W. J. JONES.

INGANDESGENT LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED 13110.3, 1900 Figl v Fig.2

Inventor Walter J Jones.

UNITED snags PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER J. JONES, OF HACKENSAOK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J JONES, a citizen of the United States, residin at Hack ensack, county of Bergen, State 0 New J ersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-Lam Sock ets, of which the following is a speci cation.

My invention relates to sockets for incandescent lam s, and especially those used in series incan escent lighting. In such a system it is necessary to provide some means for keeping the circuit closed in case a lamp burns out or is removed from its receptacle. Moreover, it is highly desirable to provide such an arrangement of contacts that there will be no danger of an are when one removes the socket from the receptacle. These objects I accomplish by the invention which forms the subject of the present application. I provide a rece tacle with spring-contacts which remain c os ed until the spring-contacts on a lamp-socket are thrust in between them. The lamp-contacts are normally separated by a piece of insulation of low dielectric strength, so that it willbreak down and shunt the lamp in case the lamp-filament breaks or burns out. The s'pring-contactson the lamp-socket are so arranged that when the socket is withdrawn from the receptacle said springs remain in engagement with those on the receptacle until after the latter have closed together, thus preventing the formation of an are. 1

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the receptacle. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the socket. Fig. 3 is a section of the receptacle on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section of the socket on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows the parts assembled, with the lamp in the socket. Fig. 6 shows a lamp and bracket such as are used in series incandes cent lighting, and Fig. 7 shows the receptacle provided with a frame for mountlng 1t m such a lamp.

insulatin material, such as porcelain, having a centra hole a and oppositely-arranged grooves a running from said hole toward the edge of the disk. In each groove is received one end of a fiat metal spring-contact B, which is fastened by a screw 0 and has also a screw D, provided with a nut d for attaching the lme-Wire terminals. Each spring has ahead I) and ari inclilnedend b,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3,1900. Serial No. 38,597. v

' Patented April 17, 1906.

lamp-terminals, each in electrical connection with a flat metal spring F, projecting from the bottom of the socket. Each spring has a bead f and an inclined end f said ends clam ing between them a flat piece of insulation such as paper, silk, or the like. The bottom of the socket has a protecting-washer H, of rubber or the like, to keep the socket from chipping when it is pushedagainst the receptacle.

When the lamp-socket is out of the rece tacle, the spring-contacts B automatical y keep the circuit closed. When a lamp I is to be cut into the circuit, it'is inserted into the socket E, whose springs F are then thrust in between the springs B, making firm contact therewith before the ends I) of the spring are separated. When the socket has been pushed home, the beads b lie in the beads f, and not only securely retain the socket in place, but make a good electrical connection between the line-terminals and the lam -terminals, the ends b of the spring B eing widely separated, as shown in Fig. 5. The insulation .G prevents any short-circuiting of the lam If a l amp-filament breaks orburns out, the current breaks down the insulation G and closes the circuit between the springs F. When the lineman removes the socket to replace the insulation cut-out, the springs B come together before the springs F have separated from them, as indicated by the dotted lines in 'Fig. 3, so that no dangerous arc can form, nor is the lineman in danger of getting a shock from the line. A further protection is afforded by the fact that the contacts are Moreover, since the socket must be com- 7 X pletely removed before the cut-out G can be The receptacle is composed of a disk A of renewed, all liability of a short-circuit through the lineman is avoided.

. Fig. 6 shows a series incandescent lampfixture K hung on a bracket L. In such a lamp the rece tacle isprovided witha frame or bridge M, y which it is attached to the piece G of paper, silk or the like between the tacle having automatic lineclosing contacts,

and a-lamp-socketadapted to receive an ordinary incandescent lamp therein and carry ing coo crating contacts normally separated by insu ation of low dielectric value.

2. In series incandescent lighting, a receptacle having two spring-contacts adapted to close against each other, a lamp-socket adapted to receive an ordinary incandescent lamp therein and carrying two s ring contacts adapted to close a ainst eac other, and a piece of insulation etWeen said socket-contactsr 3. In series incandescent lighting, a receptacle provided with two spring-contacts having beads and inclined ends, a lamp-socket adapted to receive an ordinary incandescent lamp therein and provided with two co6perating spring-contacts having beads and inclined ends, and a. iece of insulation between the ends of the S00 et-contacts;

4. The combination with a receptacle A having spring-contacts B, of a socket E adapt- 7 ed to receive an ordinary incandescent lamp therein and havin spring-contacts F and a contacts F. I

5. The combination with a receptacle having-spring-contacts normally in contact with each other, of a socket adapted to receive an ordinary incandescent lamp therein and carrying spring-contacts adapted to enter between the receptacle-contacts and to force lamp-supporting means on said plate of in-- them.

6. The combination with areceptacle A, havin spring-contacts B each provided with an inc ined end 1;, and an intermediate bead I), of a socket E adapted to receive an ordithreaded seat into which the said threaded supporting means areserewed and havin atits periphery depending arms with inwar l turned feet, a plate of insulation rigidly bolted to said-feet, and circuit-terminals and sulation.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of November, 1900..

. WALTER J. JONES.

Witnesses: F. N. LAWTON, RoBT. N. HEATIL them apart only after making contact with. 

